Dissociative Disorders can case a disconnection between thoughts, memories, emotions, behavior and sense of agency.

 

Many people experience mild dissociation when they daydream or drive in their car, and this phenomenon is a normal process of dissociation. 

 

Dissociative Disorders are frequently associated with trauma and a person may dissociate the memory, situation, or feelings about a traumatic event, and thereby mentally escaping from the pain, horror, or reality inherent in the event. The disturbance must be distinguished from a normal part of a broadly accepted cultural or religious practice. 

 

Dissociative Identity Disorder, formerly Multiple Personality Disorder, is the existence of two or more distinct personality states along with associated changes in thinking, memory and behavior. Often, the signs and symptoms are noticed by a person or their loved ones, and may include gaps in memory, changes in personal preference such as food and activities, or a feeling as though an observer of one’s own speech and actions, or that one’s body may feel different than before.

 

Depersonalization Disorder is the experience of feeling detached from one’s body or thoughts. Described by some as feeling like you are observing yourself from outside of your body. 

 

Derealization Disorder is the experience of feeling as if you are watching yourself from outside of your body or like you are viewing yourself on a movie screen. You may not feel connected to your sensations, body mind or feelings (APA, 2013).